Mayor Adams broadens Kaz Daughtry's public safety role

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has expanded the responsibilities of Kaz Daughtry, his deputy mayor for public safety. Daughtry, who has faced controversy during his time in the role, now has authority over law enforcement units in several civilian city agencies. Previously, his responsibilities included only the departments of Correction, Fire, and Probation. Adams issued an executive order on Monday, granting Daughtry oversight of law enforcement operations in ten agencies, including Parks, Sanitation, and Health. These agencies previously reported to other deputy mayors. The expansion allows Daughtry to review their activities and maintain communication with them. Daughtry is an ex-NYPD official and a close ally of Adams. However, he has faced scrutiny due to his past at the NYPD, where he was involved in a team criticized for misconduct. He is currently dealing with a lawsuit over allegations of excessive force against a protester in 2023. The Department of Investigation has also criticized him for unprofessional behavior on social media. Last week, it was reported that Daughtry was granted a waiver to bypass the city's residency requirement for deputy mayors. He took on his current role after the resignations of several officials amid concerns about Adams' leadership amid ongoing legal issues.